UMD Computer Science Career Fair Draws Thousands of Students

The University of Maryland’s Department of Computer Science organized its long-standing Fall Career and Internship Fair on September 23 at the Adele H. Stamp Student Union. This signature event held biannually, has become a cornerstone for students seeking to prepare for careers in the rapidly evolving tech industry. With 67 companies in attendance, the fair offered a range of opportunities to approximately 2,750 students eager to connect with potential employers.

For many students, the fair serves as a vital stepping stone to internships and full-time positions, providing direct engagement with recruiters and hiring managers.

“It was a really great opportunity to meet so many recruiters,” said Anshu Chandrasekhar, a junior computer science major. “I was able to make many connections and learn about different roles for the upcoming summer and even post-graduation.” 

Chandrasekhar, like many students, saw the fair as crucial to expanding her professional network and gaining insights into the job market. 

“I think the most valuable part of the career fair was seeing the different roles available for the upcoming summer and beyond,” she reflected. “It influenced how I’m planning for my future.”

Students navigated the booths, presenting résumés and exploring roles aligned with their career goals. Companies and government agencies, including Amazon Robotics, Northrop Grumman, Google, Booz Allen Hamilton and the U.S. Department of State, offered opportunities in software development, cybersecurity and cloud computing. For these organizations and others, the fair provided a chance to engage with talented students who were well-versed in computer science.

Representatives from Cipher Tech Solutions, a federal contractor based in Vienna, Virginia, were among the corporate participants. Kathryn McMillion, the company’s director of recruiting, said they were particularly interested in students within 12 months of graduation, especially those with degrees in computer science, electrical engineering or related disciplines.

“We’re seeking software developers and reverse engineers,” McMillion said. “We prioritize candidates’ degree types and focus on students within one year of graduation who have the technical skills in demand in today’s market.”

McMillion emphasized that communication skills and a commitment to the company’s mission were equally important beyond technical expertise. 

“We need people who are mission-driven and looking for a long-term career supporting U.S. government missions,” she added. “It’s also important that they can communicate complex technical concepts to people who might not be as technical.”

The fair also attracted University of Maryland alumni who have successfully transitioned into industry roles and returned as recruiters. Joshua Wyatt (B.S. ’23, computer science), an associate software engineer at L3Harris Technologies, credited the career fair with helping him secure his current job.

“The computer science department shaped how I approached recruiting,” Wyatt said. “I took courses like operating systems and computer network security, which gave me a solid foundation. When I attended the fair, I connected with companies that work with embedded systems, which was exactly what I was interested in.”

While alumni like Wyatt secured positions, for first-year computer science students, the career fair was more about gaining experience than landing a job. 

Freshman computer science major Param Bondali noted that advice from upperclassmen prepared him for what to expect.

“Some of my friends told me that you shouldn’t expect to get a job right away,” Bondali shared. “It’s more about getting to know the people and learning what they want. What helped me the most was being confident and straightforward about my interests, even though I’m a freshman.”

A recent survey by the University Career Center shows that the University of Maryland’s Department of Computer Science achieved a 96% job placement rate for the class of 2023, which includes graduates from August and December 2022 and May 2023. Nearly 20% of the graduates secured jobs through UMD’s career fairs.

—Story by Samuel Malede Zewdu, CS Communications